Take 3: Nicotine in pregnancy

Nicotine impairs fetal growth and can cause life-long health problems

Nicotine impairs fetal growth and can cause life-long health problems.

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. It reduces the blood supply to the fetus so you end up with a much smaller baby, says Dr Colin Mendelsohn, a tobacco treatment specialist.

“A baby of that size has increased morbidity and mortality,” he says.

“Also, importantly, it has long-term health implications. Babies who start off small grow faster to catch up and, unfortunately, can’t regulate that catch up and they tend to go on to become too fat and as adults, and are more likely to have coronary heart disease, diabetes and hypertension at significantly increased rates.

“So although you start with a small baby, you end up with all the problems of a big baby.”

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